Aug. 31 brought one of the most bizarre moments of the baseball season during a standard regular-season game that featured two teams battling it out for a second-place wildcard finish in the American League. This moment didn’t directly involve any players, managers or even umpires, but the broadcast crew of the Boston Red Sox — specifically Will Flemming.
It all began in the bottom of the eighth inning with the New York Yankees leading the visiting Red Sox 7-1 in a game that had yet to fully blow up.
Yankee second baseman Jazz Chisholm opened the half inning with a walk before casually stealing second base, then, shortly after, third. This prompted an already irritated Red Sox broadcast to say, “Chisholm’s doing it again; this is what he does […] look, you’re up six; it’s the eighth, the team is electing to hold you on, that’s the white flag.”
While not outright hurtful, the announcers began by insinuating that Chisholm had done something dirty that was a part of his character. By no means is a six-run game in the bottom of the eighth inning completely out of reach, but expecting a player to stop playing the game and not jump on an opportunity to steal a base is ridiculous.
Clearly letting the emotions of this division rivalry game get to their heads, the broadcast crew then said something completely out of left field moments later. With Yankee catcher Austin Wells at the plate, the broadcast took things to a whole new level by stating, “wouldn’t you love to see Moran drill Wells right here?”
The insults continued as Flemming would go on to call Chisholm a “bush league player,” followed by another statement criticizing his character: “well, that’s who Jazz is.”
Mere moments after this string of comments were made, Wells would crush a perfectly timed home run to right field, followed by a “Moran should fight Chisholm” comment from the broadcast.
At this point, things were clearly getting out of hand if they weren’t already. Calling a former all-star a bush leaguer, hoping a pitcher drills another player with a pitch, then telling that same pitcher to fight the opposing team is objectively insane.
After the game, several Yankee players called out Flemming and the broadcast crew for their comments. A defiant Chisholm later stated when asked about Flemming, “I’m not going to remember who he is.”
After the events of the game unfolded and dust settled, Flemming would go on to apologize to Chisholm and the Yankees,
“Since I have been receiving nonstop calls and threats, I felt like it was important to hop back on here and say: My comments during yesterday’s broadcast crossed a line. I’m emotional and a fan at heart and that bled into the broadcast. I meant no disrespect to the Yankees players or organization. I could and should have used different words. These rivalry games get me fired up; I apologize for letting the emotion of the moment get the best of me,” said Flemming.
Both the Yankees and Red Sox continue to fight for that second wildcard spot as the season progresses, with a potential post-season matchup looming in the distance. Whether or not Flemming and the broadcast have learned their lesson, there will surely be some flaring emotions if these two teams face off in October.